Pub Crawl
Welcome to my crawl! A pub crawl, for those of you who may not know, is when one goes to a public house, downs a pint, and then proceeds to the next establishment, where one downs a pint, and then proceeds...
I'm not advocating that the visitor does this, in fact, I've never done it myself, but it certainly is possible as most pubs listed here are more or less in the centre of the city and are within easy walking distance from one another. My list is not complete; I am only listing pubs that I have, at various times, frequented at least once. Most pubs in Winchester provide food, it varies from basic 'pub grub' to meals that are better than some of the city's restaurants. Also, the pubs listed below are in no particular order.
O'Neill's Pub is one of those homogenous, Irish-theme-pubs England (and probably the rest of the planet) is now awash with. Having said that, I quite like it! It's location, on the upper end of the High Street, is convenient; the leather armchairs are quite relaxing; the interior clean; and the lunch meals are filling and inexpensive.
The King Alfred Pub is one of my favourite (maybe even favourite) pubs in Winchester. It is a 10 minute walk away from the High Street, on Saxon Street in the victorian suburb of Hyde. It has been 'gentrified' over the passed few years and a large part of the establishment has been given over to pub meals. Having said that, there is still a bar area with pool table. There is also a beautiful beer garden. It's quite a delight to have a drink in the garden on a summer's evening.
The White Swan Pub is located on the upper end of Hyde Street at the top of Jewry Street. It is a no-nonsense type of place. It broadcasts all major English Premiership football and international matches, as well as rugby and cricket on a large screen and is very popular with locals.
The Hyde Tavern is an old establishment and, surely, Winchester's smallest pub. It is at the lower end of Hyde Street - a comfortable 10 to 15 minute walk from the centre of town. Well worth a visit, though not if you're with a large tour group!
The Exchequer Pub is on Southgate Street. I have had a few lunch-time 'sups' at this pub. It has the air of a traditional, no-nonsense pub. It also serves, typical, good value pub grub and there is a decking area at the rear to enjoy one's meal and pint.
The Eclipse Inn is located in The Square, opposite the City Museum. It is an old building and excludes that old-world-english-pub atmosphere. The inn sells typical pub grub, and in summer, you can sit at one of table out the front and watch the world go by.
The Old Market Inn is located on the corner of Market Street and overlooks the Cathedral green. It's an extremely pleasant pub to while away some time. The bar food is good and great value for money. In summer it can get very busy during the day with the many visitors who have worked up a thirst visiting the cathedral.
The Slug and Lettuce is located Minster Street and overlooks the Cathedral green. It is arranged on two floors and it also has two personalities. During the day it is a pleasant place to have a drink and a meal. At night it gets very, very busy, especially on weekends, as it is a favourite haunt with the youth of the city. So, if you are young this might be the place to go, otherwise, you're well advised to find somewhere quieter.
The Crown and Anchor is at the bottom of the High Street, opposite the Town Hall and is a nice, old-fashioned sort of place. The staff are friendly and there is a really pleasant patio to the rear. The menu is what you would expect; 'pub grub' at a decent price. The pub is located opposite Abbey House (the mayor's official residence).
The Wykeham Arms is one of Winchester's oldest pubs and can be found in 75 Kingsgate Street close to Winchester College. Lunch is bustling, with lawyers from the nearby courts, schoolmasters, clergymen, tourists and all and sundry. The food is first-class and the menu is changed daily. Some might find it a little bit of a kitsch tourist trap, however, it is definitely one of the more 'civilized' pubs Winchester has to offer.
The Black Boy Pub is situated in Wharf Hill, close to the The Wiers Mill. It is one of the city's most popular pubs (if not the best pub in Winchester) where, during the day, you can find Winchester College dons and barristers and, in the evenings, it is very popular with the youth of the city. The pub is divided into a number of rooms with real fires and there is a beer garden to the side. The small restaurant also serves superior food than can be found in most other pubs in the city.
The Bishop on the Bridge can be found at 1 High Street beside the City Bridge. It is a large establishment and there is a terrace out the back where you can drink and eat whilst watching the ducks on the river Itchen. The food is good. It is also a very popular place in the evening for the youth of the city.
The Old Gaolhouse is on Jewry Street. It is a very busy pub and is pact out on a Friday and Saturday night with gangs of the town's youth. It's not my favourite pub, but it is a lively place. You can get pub grub here at a good price, though I've not tried eating there myself.
The Savannah is on Jewry Street right next door to the Gaolhouse and attracts exactly the same sort of clientele. I've been once and don't suppose I'll be going again.